Can closures



R. w. ANKNEY I 2,923,446

CAN CLOSURES Feb. 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1956 INVENTOR.

ROBERT w. ANKNEY BY '3- i g ATTORNEY Elf R. W. ANKNEY Feb. 2, 1960 CAN CLOSURES 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1956 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ROBERT w. ANKNEY ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,923 446. CAN cL osUREs Robert W. Ankney, Bedfqgd, Qhio Application October 29, 195 6, sertii No. 618,955

6 Claims. (o1. z n-57o The present invention pertains to the art of can closures or more particularly to a can closure including a pouring spout.

' The invention is particularly applicable to pouring spouts and closures for calls made of sheet metal materials and will be'described with particular reference thereto although it will be appreciated that theca'n may be"of any desired material. I Ordinarily cans of'the type which are used for containing liquid soaps, detergents 'and many other liquids are generally constructed'from sheet material such; for example, plastic or sheet metal' including ferrous sheet 'rnetali .very thin and, therefore, iinlss it is reinforced, provides a weak connection or joint between the sheet material -and 'a pouring spout -or' enclosure'seeured theretoat' a hole inthe'wall.

"It is known to manufacture thepouring spouts out of a relatively soft, pliable i'na'terial such as'a polyethylene' molded plastic. By pliable is m'eanFa' material which canreadily be deflected or de'forr'ned'by relatively light pressures such as hand pressure and which, upon the release 'of the pressure, will quickly regaiii' its molded shape. These spouts were provided on the' outsid-thereo'f with threads for co-actingwith aii'internally 'threa'ded cap.

One of the problems in the past has been to mount such a plastic spout on a metal can wall in such manrier that a leakproof, sealed joint is obtained and the spout will remain tight to and'thus substantially nonmovable relative to the wall even though the spout and wallof the can are subjected to extreme temperature changes or destructive type 'bending, or other forces or pressures.

Another problem was to eliminate molding costs of thesquare-typ'e thread by using semicircular or V-type threads or a sloping edge cam portion on the spout and cap while having a thinnerwall thickness to provide a larger opening for a given external spout diameter. It is recognized that semicircular, V-type threads or sloping edge' cam portions make 'it possible to use a single piece die for molding since the spout and cap can be'stripped therefrom, whereas 'the square threads required a two piece separable die for molding. Also, materials and curing time are saved when a thinner wall thickness can be used.

The problem of filling the cans was also encountered because of the small opening in the spout and the attachment of the spout to the wall prior to filling of the can. Filling"the'can through a larger opening in the spout or attaching the spout to the wall after filling the can' is more economical and'easier to do.

Furthermore, when sheet metal is used, it usually has coatings of tin or other material on the surfaces thereof to prevent corrosion, rusting, or the like, of the sheet metal. Howeven when a hole' is punched in the sheet metal, the edge of the hole is left unprotected and sometimes was-left in a position where it could easily The sheet material used in these can's is generally ICE be contacted by the atmosphere or the corrosive materials or liquids in the can. Various attempts have'been made to protect the peripheral edge of the hole against corrosionwhen such spouts and/or closures are secured thereto.

The present invention contemplates a new and improved pouring spout of a general type described which overcomes all of the above referred difficulties and others, and provides a cap and pouring spout'which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, is leakproof andeasilYassenibled with a can wall either before or after attaching the wall to the can and either before or after filling the can.

The present invention further contemplates a can closure and pouring spout which is constructed from a plastic materialaiid is secured to the periphery of the hole in a sheet metal can in such manner thatit strengthens the can and spout as well as protecting the peripheraledge of the hole against corrosion.

In accordai'ice with the'present invention, a sheet material can is provided with a cylindrical flange defininga hole in the wall the can. Entending through this hole is a pliable time spout held against'the flange by a rigid sleevefivhich pre sses the tube against the flange. The spout may be "seciiried in the 'flange or on the wall before or afterthewali is fastened to the restof the can as well i the can hasbeen "filled; The tube or a removable cap which may engage exhread portions of the tube and which r a n M I sealirigly seats against at least a corner on the end of the tube. Sincethe tube is'pliable, it has been found pr ferable to make h rigid ssY fi l' that it forms a liiier for the threaded portion'of the spout or tube to stitfei it.

Further agcordance with the invention, the pouring .SPQPJ xternally threaded or provided with cam porof a s e which can be easily stripped fro'ni'a rnold pa; n 't f mol Further accerdance'with the invention and when the sheet material of the can is corrodible or sheet metal, the tube is preferably provided with a shoulder or the like which win cover and arou d the 9 9- Theref f re, the present invention as set forth herein has for one of its objects the provision of a pouring spout for a can which is simple in design, economical to make, easy to assemble, and provides a strong construction. A further object of the invention 'is toprovide a comprotect the edge of "the flange bir'ied closure'and spout for a sheet material can which completely seals the can and protects the peripheral edge of the sheet mat'erial around the spout. Afu'rther object of theinvention is to provide a pouring spout for a can which is assembled to the wall of the can after jthe can is completed.

further object of the i'nventiop is to provide a sheet material wall' of a canwith a pliable pouring spout and a cap which completely seal the holein the can when thec'ap isaffixed'to the spout, wherein the spout is reinfo'rc ed'or stiffened and the cap is cammed or threaded thereon. still further object of the invention is to provide a mounting for apouring spout on thesheet material wall of'thecan wherein "a'seal'ed joint is obtained'which is mechanically strong or which strengthens the wall of'the can A still further object of the invention is to provide .complementary structures in a pouring spout'a'nd 'acap lowing description of particular embodiments of the invention in association with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a section of a sheet material wall of the can and the pouring spout and cap attached thereto and in sealed engagement therewith, illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken approximately along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of Figure 1 illustrating the invention with the parts thereof illustrated partly in cross-section,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention,

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 illustrates another modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein embodiments of the invention are shown for the purposes of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting same, the figures show a can and closure therefore, comprised of a sheet material can wall 10, a pliable tube constituting the pouring spout 11, a non-resilient or rigid sleeve 12, and a cap 13 which may be somewhat resilient if desired. The wall is provided with a flange 15, defining a hole 14 through which the spout or tube extends and to which the tube is secured by the rigid sleeve tightly fitted within and radially outwardly pressing the tube. The cap is threaded, cammed or otherwise fitted on the free end of the tube to completely seal it and is removable therefrom so that contents of the can may be poured outwardly through the tube or spout. In most instances, it

is preferable to have the rigid sleeve stiffen that portion of the spout which is in threaded engagement with the cap.

The term out-turned flange as used herein refers to the fact that the flange extends transversely to the wall around it, and regardless of whether the flange extends in a general direction into or out of a completed can.

In the structure of Figure l, the wall 10 is formed of a sheet material such as a ferrous sheet metal having a tinned or corrosion-proof surface coating applied thereto by plating or the like, and provided with a hole 14. The pouring spout 11, rigid sleeve 12, and cap 13 are, in this case, made from suitable plastic materials as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The wall 10 (see Figure 3) has an out-turned flange 15 terminating in an unprotected edge 16, with the outturned flange 15 defining the periphery of the hole 14 in the sheet metal wall 10. This edge 16 is usually unprotected by the tinning, plating or other coatings which are applied to the surface of the sheet metal in the wall 10 since the hole is usually punched therein after the coatings are applied to the sheet metal forming the Wall. The out-turned flange naturally strengthens the periphery of the sheet metal around the hole 14.

The resilient, flexible or pliable tube 11 extends through the flange 15 and thus through the hole 14 and is provided with a collar 17 on one end thereof which is adapted to seat tightly against the inside surface 18 of the sheet metal wall 10 of the can. The tube or spout 11 has a longitudinal passage therethrough. In accordance with the present invention, the portion of the tube or spout 11 which is received in the opening 14 has, before its insertion in such opening, outer dimensions at least equal to the dimensions of the opening, so that the spout has a snug fit in this opening when initially inserted therein. The longitudinal passage in the tube or spout 11 after such insertion has pre-determined dimensions longitudinally uniform throughout the length of the opening 14 and for a substantial distance beyond. The tube 11 is preferably made of a somewhat resilient, flexible or pliable plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene, so that it can be resiliently or flexibly pushed into sealed surface contact with the inside surface 15' of the out-turned flange 15 and the inside surface 18 of the wall by the non-resilient or rigid sleeve 12 which tightly fits into the inside of the sleeve 11 and within the outturned flange 15. The sleeve 12 is inserted in the longitudinal passage in the spout 11 after the spout has been positioned in the opening 14. The sleeve has outer dimensions longitudinally uniform throughout the length of the opening 14 and greater than the pre-determined uniform dimensions at the portion of the spout 11 which is located in the opening 14, but less than the dimensions of the opening 14 itself. By virtue of this novel structural ar angement, when the sleeve 12 is inserted into the spout passage after the spout has been inserted in the opening 14, the material of the portion of the spout at the opening 14 will be compressed between the sleeve and the flange 15 which defines the opening 14.

The tube or spout 11 extends outwardly from the wall and thus from the out-turned flange 15 and terminates in an inturned lip 19 at the fre* end thereof which is engageable by the cap 13. The inturned lip 19, and thus the free end of the resilient tube 11, is surrounded by and peripherally encompassed by an external sharp corner or edge 20 adapted to cooperate with cap 13 to provide a seal when cap 13 is on the s ut.

The cap 13 is provided with an internal wall surface 25 terminating in an internal peripheral bottom surface 26 which cooperate with the comer 20 and the lip 19 of the tube to completely seal the end of the tube when the can is cammed or th eaded thereon. In this instance, it has been found preferable to have the wall surface 25 and the bottom surface 26 aligned in such manner that the wall surface 25 is slightly conical upwardly and the bottom surface 26 slopes inwardly and downwardly toward the inturned lip 19 on the end of the tube 11. In this way, the Wall surface 25 will engage and press the sharp comer 20 radially inwardly and the bottom surface 26 will engage and press against the inturned lip 19 to completely seal the end of the tube 11 when the cap 13 is fastened thereon.

The cap 13 is fastened to the tube 11 with the surface 25 in sealing engagement with sharp corner 20 and with surface 26 in sealing engagement with lip 19 by providing the cap 13 with an internal cam portion such as threads 27 and the outside of the tube 11. between the ends thereof, with a complementary cam portion such as threads 28. In the present instance, these cooperative cam portions or threads 27 and 28 may be molded into the tube and the cap during the manufacture thereof.

The threads or the cam portions are of a semicircular V-shape, or the like which will permit stripping the spout or cap from a mold. In view of this, a mold may be constructed of a single piece of material instead of separable pieces which are necessary when the spout or cap cannot be stripped from the mold. Also, the spout or tube 11 is of thinner wall section than prior designs so that a larger opening is attained for a given outside diameter spout.

The tube 11, being of a flexible or pliable material, is made rigid in the threaded portion by means of the rigid sleeve 12 so that good thread or cam engagement is obtained between tube 11 and cap 13. Rigid sleeve 12 has a length suflicient to line the inside of and thereby strengthen or stiffen the threadsof tube 11 as well as hold tube 11 in sealed engagement with the out-turned flange 15. Thus, rigid sleeve 1.) extends from a point between the inturned lip 19 and the threads 28, through the flange 15 and terminates in a flange 29 which covers and seats againsts collar 17 on the inside of the can.

Rigid sleeve 12 is made of a material which will not be corroded by the contents of the can, such, for example and preferably, rigid non-corrosive plastic materials. It is understood that if non-corrosive materials are contained in the can, this sleeve 12 may be made of metal.

With this construction and the sealing engagements herein provided, the hole in the wall of the can is completely sealed when the cap 13 is placed tightly on the tube 11 to press edge or corner 20 into cap surface 25 and lip 19 into cap surface 26, and sleeve 12 presses spout or tube 11 against the out-turned flange 15.

The seal is not broken by attempting to push the spout sideways or axially relative to the wall of the can or when the can is subjected to extreme temperatures. Even though the spout and metal wall of the can have difierent co-eflicients of expansion, the present design assures a strong, leakproof joint at various temperatures so that movement of the spout relative to the wall is not obtained when the cap is placed thereon or when other moving forces are applied thereto.

It is noted that this construction completely isolates the edge 16 of the outturned flange 15 from the contents of the can. The edge is completely on the outside of the tube or spout 11 and on the outside of the can. Corrosion of this edge 16 is further prevented by providing the tube 11 with an external resilient shoulder I 31 which seats against the edge 16 to cover it. When the cap is removed from the spout during pouring of liquids therefrom, the shoulder 31 covers the edge 16 to keep contents being poured from the can from coming in contact with the edge 16.

The modification of the invention, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, has a sheet material can wall 110, a pouring spout 111, a rigid sleeve 112, and a cap 113 which are in many respects similar to those of Figures 1 to 3 and which provide a spout and seal for the can.

In this modification, the wall 110 has an out-turned flange 115 defiining hole 114. It is understood the flange 115 may extend in either direction from the wall and is illustrated as extending from the wall towards the inside of the can whereas in the modification of Figure l, the out-turned flange 15 extends outwardly from the can. The flange 115 terminates in an unprotected t lge 116.

The pliable tube or spout 111 has one end thereof chamfered and provided with an external shoulder 117 seatable against the edge 116 with the spout extending through the hole 114 and flange 115. Since the end is chamfered, the spout may be pushed through the flange, shoulder end first, for assembly purposes and the shoulder 117 will snap out over the edge 116. The spout 111 is pressed radially cutwardly against the inside wall 115' of the flange 115 and held in engagement therewith by the rigid sleeve 112. V

The rigid sleeve 112, in this instance, is a straight hollow cylindrical sleeve with at least one end, and preferably both ends, externally chamfered to permit pressing the sleeve 112 into the spout 111 and within the flange 115. When both ends of the rigid sleeve are chamfered, either end may be inserted first into the spout. The sleeve and spout may also be PI'uVldBd with suitable interlocking portions, such as bead 120 and groove 121, to prevent easy removal of the sleeve after the spout has been assembled to the flange.

The sleeve 112 may have a length suflicient to hold the spout 111 against the flange 115 or, preferably and as illustrated, may have a length sufficient to line and thereby stiffen the threaded portion of the spout. When the sleeve 112 lines the threaded portion of the spout, the cap may be threaded down tight without collapsing the pliable spout.

Such structure, whether used in the modifications of Figure l or 4, also permits molding the spout of a pliable material whereby the threads can be formed in a rounded corner manner and still be stripped from a cavity type mold. It is well known that if the threads were square threads and the spout were made of a non-pliable or nonflexible material, an integrated separable mold wouldv be needed.

It is noted that in both modifications, the flange 15 or 115 has an internal diameter R the spout 11 or 111 has a pre-assembled internal diameter R and a pre-assembled external diameter R and the rigid sleeve 12 or 112 has an external diameter R1.

6 These diameters are measured before assembly of the parts and at those portions which will be aligned within the flange after assembly. A strong rigid supporting structure which is sealed and does not leak is obtained when the pre-assembled dimensions are in one of the following relationships:

(a) When R is equal to R R is less than R.

(b) When R is greater than R R is equal to or less than R With these pre-assembly dimensions, the rigid sleeve 12 or 112 will radially outwardly press the pliable or flexible spout .11 or 111 into or against the inside 15' or of the flange 15 or 115, thus forming a sealed, tight and strong mounting of the spout on the wall 10 or 110.

In assembling the device of Figure 4, the sleeve 112 may be pressed into tube 111' either before or after the tube is inserted in flange 115 and from .either end of the tube. For example, and in the preferred method, the rigid sleeve 112 may first'be placed in the free end, the end opposite shoulder 117, of the spout 111 and then the spout 111 pressed into the flange 115. After this, the sleeve 112 is pressed on into the spout 111 and within the flange 115, the bead andgroove 121 interlocking to prevent the parts from separating.

' This preferred method of assembly permits manufacture of the can complete with the wall and flange, the flange extending outwardly from the wall but in a direction into the completed can. The can may then be filled with liquid or other contents prior to the insertion of the spout. After the can is thus filled, the spout may be secured in the flange and the cap cammed or screwed thereon to completely seal the can. It is understood that the spout may be inserted before the wall is secured to the remainder of the can or just before the can is filled with liquid or other contents if desired.

Figure 4 also shows a modification of the sealing arrangement between the end of the spout 111 and the cap 113. In this modification, an internal corner 119 and an external lip 121 are provided on the spout, the external peripheral lip 121 forming one shoulder of a peripheral groove'in the outside of the spout 111. Such structure permits use of a cap having an inwardly tapering wall 125 next adjacent a bottom surface 126, and an annular bead 127 on the bottom surface. The wall 125 engages the lip 121 and the bead 127 engages the corner 119 to seal the cap and spout.

It is also understood that the spout and sleeve arrangement of Figure 4 may be used with the flange and wall of Figure 1, or the spout and sleeve arrangement of Figure 1 may be used with the flange and wall of Figure 4. However, in such cases slight alterations in the shoulder and collar will be necessary to cover the edge of the flange.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in Figure 6. In this modification, can wall 210 supports pliable tube or spout 211 which is held in tight and sealed engagement therewith by means of non-resilient or stiff sleeve 212. As in the other preferred embodiments, the can wall 210 is provided with a flange 215 engaged by the tube 211. The flange 215 may be extended at an angle of other than 90 to the wall 210, or as illustrated, the flange extends outwardly and somewhat back over the wall to provide a tapered opening or hole therethrough. The tube 211 is provided with a tapered surface adapted to engage the tapered inside surface 215 of the flange 215 and is provided with a shoulder 231 to engage the edge of the flange to cover that edge. The tube 211 is also provided with a shoulder 217 to engage the inside surface of the Wall 210 around the flange 215. This shoulder or surface 217 is formed by chamfering or tapering the end of the tube 211, thus providing the tube 211 with a chamfered surface 225.

In this modification of Figure 6, the tube or spout may be inserted easily from the outside of the can 210 even though the flange extends outwardly since the chamfered surface 225 will easily slide on the surface 215' when the tube is shoved through the flange. After the tube and the shoulder 217 thereof have been shoved through the flange, the shoulder 217 snaps outwardly so that the flange 215 is between the shoulder 217 and the shoulder 231. The rigid sleeve 212 is easily inserted in the tube 211 after the tube 211 has been shoved through the flange to lock the tube 211 in the flange. With this modification, a leakproof seal is provided between the tube and the flange and the wall 210, the same as in the other modifications of the invention as illustrated and described herein. The tube 211 may be provided with a cam portion or threads and seal portions, the same as the other modifications, to co-operate with a cap, not illustrated in Figure 6.

It is noted in all of the embodiment that the pliable tube forming the spout is held in leakproof engagement with the flange on the can wall by a non-resilient or rigid tube so that a leakproof construction is obtained regardless of the variations in temperatures or pressures to which the structure may be subjected. In each embodiment of the present invention the pouring spout has a snug fit in the can opening by virtue of the fact that, before insertion of the spout, the outer dimensions of the portion of the spout which is located in the opening are at least equal to the dimensions of the opening itself. At this portion of the spout the spout passage has predetermined dimensions longitudinally uniform throughout the length of the can opening, at least. The rigid sleeve has outer dimensions longitudinally uniform at least throughout the length of the can opening andrgreater than said pre-determined dimensions of that portion of the spout passage, but less than the dimensions of the can opening itself. In this way the material of this portion of the spout is compressed between the sleeve and the can surface which defines the opening. It is also noted in all of the embodiments that a relatively thin walled tube, or pliable spout, is provided which has thread or cam portions adapted to be stripped from a mold and that these portions are prevented from collapsing by means of the rigid liner sleeve. In this way, a cap may be fixed on the tube or spout without collapsing the tube or spout and with a leakproof seal between the can and the spout.

It will be appreciated that preferred forms only which the invention may take have been illustrated and de scribed in this specification. Obviously, modifications and alterations differing radically in appearance from those herein described will occur to others on a reading and understanding of this specification. It is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as trey come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In the combination of a thin walled can having an opening therethrough defined by a surface, and a pouring spout of a pliant plastic material having a portion positioned within said opening and sealingly engaging said surface, said portion having a longitudinal passage therethrough, the improvement which comprises: said portion before insertion in said opening having outer dimensions generally-at least equal tothe dimensions of said opening, said passage after said portion is inserted in said opening having predetermined dimensions longitudinally uniform at least for the length of said opening, and a rigid sleeve inserted in said passage after said portion is inserted in said opening, said sleeve having outer dimensions longitudinally uniform at least for the length said opening, and greater than said passage predetermined dimensions, but less than said opening dimensions, whereby when said sleeve is inserted into said passage after said portion is inserted in said opening, the material of said portion will be compressed between said sleeve and said opening surface.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said spouthas external threads, the'passage inwardly of said threads has predetermined dimensions and said sleeve has a length such as to extend through said passage inwardly of said threads and having outer dimensions at least equal to the internal dimensions of said passage inwardly of said threads.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said spout has outwardly extending beads, one on each longitudinal end of said portion spaced a longitudinal distance generally equal to the longitudinal length of said opening surface whereby said beads will engage the longitudinal ends of said surface when said spout is assembled in said open- 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said passage has at least one inwardlyextending bead spaced from said portion and said sleeve has at least one groove corresponding to said head whereby when said sleeve is inserted in said passage, said groove and bead will match and asssist in retaining said sleeve in said passage.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said surface is on a flange extending longitudinally toward the outside of said can and said spout has a flange bearing against the inner side of said can and an outwardly extending bead engaging the outer end of said flange.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said surface is on a flange extending longitudinally inwardly of said can and said spout has a pair of outwardly extending beads spaced longitudinally the length of said flange, the inner surface of said bead on the inner end of said spout converging inwardly whereby said spout may be inserted in said opening from the outside of said can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pottle Jan. 7, 1958 .at will. 

